15.03.26 Text: Birken, Photo: Emil Nyeng

During this year’s SkøyteBirken and Birkebeinerrennet, many participants experienced that the start procedure was different from normal. The reason was very challenging weather conditions in the days leading up to the races.

Mild temperatures, strong winds and heavy precipitation in the form of rain unfortunately made it impossible to use the regular start area at Tingstadjordet. In order to carry out the races, the start therefore had to be moved higher up in the terrain.

The new start area was significantly narrower and smaller than the regular start area. As a result, it was not possible to use the same start lanes and wave starts that Birken normally uses.

Necessary solution to carry out the race
In order to get all participants out from the start, we had to implement so-called mat starts for several start groups on both Friday and Saturday.

This was an emergency solution, but according to the race management and the race jury it was absolutely necessary for the races to be carried out under the prevailing conditions.

Decision made close to race start
The organizer tried for as long as possible to save the regular start area. The decision to move the start therefore had to be made very close to the start on both Friday and Saturday. With more than 10,000 participants, and in order to avoid unnecessary chaos in a very extensive transport and logistics system up to the start arena at Rena, it was unfortunately not possible to inform about this change before the participants arrived at the start area.

We understand that this may have been experienced differently than expected by some participants, but at the same time we emphasize that the solution was necessary to ensure that the races could be carried out.

No changes to the start system going forward
Birken has absolutely no plans to change our regular start procedure or our seeding system. This time, the weather conditions challenged us to the very limit. Our fantastic volunteers worked around the clock to make it possible for the races to be carried out at all.

We therefore hope for understanding that this solution was necessary to save the execution of the races, and we warmly welcome you all back to a regular SkiBirken in 2027.